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Letters to the Editor

Fract or friction?

By Joe WilsonMayor of Erie

Posted:
12/12/2012 05:07:17 PM MST

Updated:
12/12/2012 05:08:05 PM MST

In light of the news story that a fractivist "lynch mob" drove Boulder County commissioners to abandon the scheduled, orderly start of a meeting last week and chased a woman down in the parking lot with threats and intimidation, we must ask: Are the media somewhat to blame?

Lopsided reporting on the issue has avoided the facts that would supply readers with some practical facts and context. Instead, they tend to highlight the inflammatory rhetoric and emotional aspects of the story (and perhaps their own politics).

After a 45-minute interview with 5280 magazine on facts, figures and context, it mentioned only "Erie Mayor Joe Wilson says a third-party analyst, for which the town paid, disputed much of the activists' rhetoric about air quality and toxicity." That one statement was a bit of the "balance" to 12 illustrated pages of viewpoints, mainly from the fractivist extreme.

Here are some pertinent data they chose to ignore:

Acceptable risks -- Every moment of life involves (at least some) risk. What level is acceptable to you in the risk/reward equation?

Are barbecues, minivans or crosswalks OK? If so, you may want to include natural gas wells.

FRACT-- A late-model gas well produces less than 1 percent of the emissions and toxins, annually, that the average family car does, but is exponentially less likely to cause any serious injury.

FRACT-- The state averages more than 10 bicycle deaths per year, 100 pedestrian deaths, 500 auto fatalities (and 3,000 injuries) and less than one due to natural gas operations.

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FRICTION -- "Asthma and respiratory illness are caused directly by natural gas wells." False. Asthma.com describes asthma as a chronic, often hereditary disease. Symptoms are many thousand times more likely to be caused by pollen, pets, smoke, dust and auto emissions.

FRACT -- An estimated 100,000 more chemical/oil spills occur in restaurants and auto repair shops every year than in the production of natural gas.

FRICTION -- "We have dangerously high levels of air and water pollution due to oil and gas operations." False. Our air is actually cleaner than 37 of the top 50 metros and local water supplies show virtually no incursions from wells or fracking.

FRACT -- More than 95 percent of Coloradans benefit from natural gas used for heat, cooking or both -- and prefer it by wide margins over electricity to improve the comfort and quality of life.

FRACT -- Natural gas-powered electric plants and automobiles are more than 10 times cleaner than coal and gasoline versions.

FRACT -- Energy will be at the heart of the world's future economy. Colorado's rich natural gas supplies will provide residents of our state with a better economic outlook, lower tax burdens, far more employment opportunities and less expensive, clean energy.

There is plenty of spin, misinformation and one-sided "Internet facts" out there meant to complicate the issue. As you can see, it's easier to understand when put in the context of our everyday lives. If eliminating risk was really the goal, shouldn't political activists call for a ban on minivans and barbecues? Perhaps those are next.

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